Those applying for assistance and their doctors can also now fill out their forms at the same time, when before the form had to be filled out by an applicant and then submitted to their doctor, lengthening the wait time before it could be approved.

There’s also now an online option for applicants to submit their forms.

“We are making changes so that the program is easier to access, more consistent and responsive to Albertans’ needs,” said Minister of Community and Social Services Irfan Sabir in a release.

Other changes to the program include:

The end of the “earning a livelihood” policy, which limited the number of hours an applicant could work to be eligible.

A streamlined application process.

A new guide and additional training for staff on eligibility.

An updated appeal form and centralized appeal process.

More than 55,000 Albertans rely on AISH, which provides health and financial supports to people with physical, mental and cognitive disabilities. In 2016, 12,000 people applied for the program.

The changes were made based on recommendations outlined in an auditor general report in November 2016, which found “long-standing issues related to the program’s application process, how the program is monitored and reported on, and the program’s overall efficiency,” according to the new AISH action plan.

People are eligible for AISH if they are an adult living in Alberta, have a permanent medical condition that limits their ability to earn a living and meet criteria for financial eligibility.